Cuidado de enfermagem às mães/cuidadoras de crianças/adolescentes com necessidades especiais: terapias complementares e atividades lúdicas / Nursing care to mothers/caregivers of children/adolescents with special needs: complementary therapies and playful activities / Atención de enfermería a las madres/cuidadoras de niños y adolescentes con necesidades especiales: terapias complementarias y actividades lúdicas

Objetivo: promover ações como atividades lúdicas e terapias complementares numa perspectiva de promoção à saúde no cuidado às mães/cuidadoras de crianças/adolescentes com necessidades especiais em saúde por meio de um projeto de extensão. Método: relato de experiência de um projeto extensionista desenvolvido em uma Associação de Pais e Amigos dos Excepcionais, com mães/cuidadoras de crianças/adolescentes com necessidades especiais. O método adotado foi o grupo operativo, por meio de atividades lúdicas e terapias complementares, totalizando 13 encontros. Resultados: vínculo, integração grupal, auto expressão verbal e não verbal, aumento da autoestima, autocuidado e valorização pessoal. Houve satisfação frente às atividades proporcionadas, observada pelos métodos de avaliação. Conclusões: o trabalho desenvolvido constitui-se como elo entre teoria e prática e contribui para a troca de saberes e experiências entre acadêmicos e profissionais da área da saúde, em especial, a enfermagem com a sociedade, construindo vínculos e favorecendo o cuidado.

Aim: to promote actions such as recreational activities and complementary therapies in a health promotion perspective in the care to mothers/caregivers of children/adolescents with special health care needs by means of an extension project. Method: case studies of an extension project developed in an Association of Parents and Friends of the Mentally Ill, with mothers/caregivers of children/adolescents with special needs. The adopted method was the operating group, through recreative activities and complementary therapies, in a total of 13 meetings. Results: the bonding, group integration, verbal and non-verbal self expression, increased self-esteem, self-care and personal appreciation. There was satisfaction from the offered activities, observed by evaluation methods. Conclusions: work is a link between theory and practice and contributes to the exchange of knowledge and experience between academics and health professionals, in particular nursing with society, building bonds and favoring care.

Objetivo: promover acciones, como actividades recreativas y terapias complementarias, en una perspectiva de promoción de la salud, en el cuidado a las madres y cuidadores de niños y adolescentes con necesidades de atención especial de salud, por medio de un proyecto de extensión. Método: estudio de caso de un proyecto de extensión desarrollado en la Asociación de Padres y Amigos de Mentalmente Enfermos, con las madres y cuidadoras de niños y adolescentes con necesidades especiales. El método adoptado fue el grupo operativo, a través de actividades recreacionales y terapias complementarias, totalizando 13 encuentros. Resultados: conexión, integración grupal, expresión verbal y no verbal propia, mayor autoestima, autocuidado y apreciación personal. Hubo satisfacción delante de las actividades ofrecidas, observada por medio de métodos de valoración. Conclusiones: el trabajo desarrollado se constituí como enlace entre teoría y práctica y contribuye para el intercambio de conocimientos y experiencias entre académicos y los profesionales de la salud, en particular, la enfermería con la sociedad, construyendo vínculos y favoreciendo el cuidado.

Psicologia positiva no Brasil: uma revisão sistemática da literatura / Positive psychology in Brazil: a systematic review

A Psicologia Positiva é um paradigma teórico que se encontra em expansão no Brasil. A proposta da Psicologia Positiva é estudar os fundamentos psicológicos do bem-estar e da felicidade, assim como os pontos fortes e as virtudes humanas. Para refletir sobre as produções científicas nesta área no Brasil, este artigo teve como objetivo apresentar uma revisão sistemática da literatura científica nacional em Psicologia Positiva considerando o período das primeiras publicações (anos 90) até 2012. Utilizou-se o descritor "Psicologia Positiva" e a revisão foi realizada em bases de dados de publicações nacionais SciELO, BVS e BDTD. Constatou-se que houve um crescimento pouco expressivo e não-linear nas publicações científicas nesta área no país. Encontraram-se poucos estudos brasileiros que se propuseram a estudar a psicologia positiva com rigor científico, o que permite concluir que a produção de pesquisas brasileira nesta área ainda é limitada. Com relação aos construtos teóricos, observou-se que o bem-estar é o tema central da maioria dos estudos, e foram identificados sete diferentes instrumentos de pesquisa utilizados para avaliação de diferentes construtos da psicologia positiva. Foram encontrados também estudos que verificaram a efetividade de intervenções em Psicologia Positiva, sugerindo a aproximação nas áreas de psicologia clínica, da saúde e escolar(AU)

Positive Psychology is a theoretical paradigm that is expanding in Brazil. The Positive Psychology proposal is tostudy the psychological fundamentals of well-being and happiness, as well as the strengths and human virtues. To discuss about scientific production on this field in Brazil, this article aimed to present a systematic review of national scientific literature about Positive Psychology considering the period of its initial publications until 2012. The descriptor "Positive Psychology" was used and the review was conducted in databases of national publications SciELO, BVS and BDTD. Little and nonlinear scientific publications increase was found in this area. Few Brazilian studies have proposed to study positive psychology with scientific rigor, what allows to conclude that Brazilian research's production in this area is still limited. Considering the theoretical constructs, well-being was the focus of the majority of studies and seven different survey instruments used to evaluate different constructs of positive psychology were also identified. Studies that assessed the effectiveness of interventions in Positive Psychology were found, suggesting an approach and application in clinical, health and school psychology areas(AU)

Lack of effects of tomato products on endothelial function in human subjects: results of a randomised, placebo-controlled cross-over study.

Epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of tomato products reduces the risk of CVD via antioxidant, hypocholesterolaemic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Although experimental data also describe beneficial effects on endothelial function, clinical data in human subjects are lacking. To test the hypothesis that tomato ingestion ameliorates endothelial function, we randomised healthy non-smoking postmenopausal women to consume a buttered roll with and without tomato purée (70 g) in a cross-over design. Endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and endothelial-independent nitro-mediated dilation of the brachial artery were assessed with high-resolution ultrasound (13 MHz linear array transducer). Acute (24 h) and long-term (7 d) effects were examined after daily consumption of the described meal. Nineteen volunteers completed the protocol and provided technically suitable ultrasound measurement data. Plasma lycopene levels increased from 0·30 (sem 0·04) (baseline) to 0·42 (sem 0·04) and to 0·74 (sem 0·06) µm after 24 h and 7 d, respectively, with tomato purée consumption. These data indicated an effective absorption of the tomato product. However, both acute and long-term tomato purée consumption had no effects on endothelium-dependent or -independent dilation of the brachial artery. In addition, we found no correlation between lycopene plasma levels and FMD. In conclusion, consumption of tomato products associated with a significant increase in plasma lycopene levels had no effects on endothelial function in healthy postmenopausal women.

Constituents from Cistus salvifolius (Cistaceae) activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ but not -δ and stimulate glucose uptake by adipocytes.

A number of medicinal/culinary herbs have been reported to improve glucose metabolism and to yield hypoglycemic effects in patients with diabetes. Since stimulation of insulin sensitivity appears to be a potential mechanism, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ is a likely target molecule for small lipophilic compounds derived from endogenous metabolism and nutrition. Functionally, PPAR γ integrates the control of energy, lipid, and glucose homeostasis. In addition, PPAR δ activity is involved in energy expenditure. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate whether PPAR γ and PPAR δ as well as the stimulation of glucose uptake is activated by botanical products. CISTUS SALVIFOLIUS (Cistaceae) has been identified as a candidate botanical in a preliminary screening of extracts from medicinal plants of Greek flora. In a bioguided approach, crude extracts, fractions and in the end purified compounds have been evaluated for PPAR γ and PPAR δ specific activities using cell-based transactivation assays. Glucose uptake was measured by nonradioactive 2-[ N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG) uptake. Concerning PPAR γ several extracts induced reporter gene activity, and clear dose-response patterns (0.1-100 µg/mL) could be established in the case of the cyclohexane and dichloromethane extracts. Isolation of individual compounds from the cyclohexane extract revealed that at least 6 out of 7 compounds isolated were active with TRANS-cinnamic acid showing a clear dose-response pattern. In contrast, they were found to be inactive on PPAR δ. The same compounds, however, were also active in stimulating glucose uptake into 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In summary, the bioguided fractionation of CISTUS SALVIFOLIUS yields PPAR γ stimulating metabolites with differing chemical natures. In conclusion, PPAR γ represents a candidate molecule for the mediation of improvement of glucose metabolism by botanical/nutritional products.

Smoking decreases the level of circulating CD34+ progenitor cells in young healthy women--a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Decreased levels of circulating bone marrow-derived progenitor cells have been associated with risk factors and cardiovascular diseases. Smoking is the most important modifiable risk factor for atherosclerosis in young women. The aim of this pilot study was to assess in healthy premenopausal women without other risk factors for cardiovascular disease the influence of nicotine abuse on the number of circulating progenitor cells in relation to endothelial function. METHODS: The number of endothelial progenitor cells, measured as colony-forming units in a cell-culture assay (EPC-CFU) and the number of circulating CD34 + and CD34 + /CD133 + cells, measured by flow cytometry, was estimated in 32 women at the menstrual phase of the menstrual cycle. In addition, flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was assessed as a marker for vascular function. In a subgroup of these women (n = 20), progenitor cells were also investigated at the mid-follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. RESULTS: Compared to non-smokers, the abundance of circulating CD34 + cells was significantly lower in smoking women in the menstrual, mid-luteal, and mid-follicular phases of the menstrual cycle. The number of CD34 + progenitor cells was revealed to have significant positive correlation with FMD in young healthy women, whereas CD34 + /CD133 + progenitor cells and EPC-CFU showed no significant correlation. CONCLUSION: The number of CD34 + progenitor cells positively correlates with FMD in young healthy women and is decreased by smoking.

Chronic smoking prevents amelioration of endothelial function in the course of the menstrual cycle.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is the most important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor in young women. The aim of this study was to investigate whether tobacco use influences physiological changes in endothelial function during the menstrual cycle. METHODS AND RESULTS: Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and nitro-mediated dilation (NMD) were assessed in healthy smoking and non-smoking women, by high-resolution ultrasound at 3 time points during the menstrual cycle: at menstruation, in the mid-follicular phase, and in the mid-luteal phase. A total of 25 women (12 non-smokers, 13 smokers) completed the study protocol. FMD did not show differences between smoking and non-smoking women at menstruation and the mid-follicular phase. At the mid-luteal phase, however, FMD was significantly reduced in smoking when compared with non-smoking women. NMD did not differ between smoking and non-smoking women, nor between the different cycle phases. CONCLUSIONS: In healthy women, smoking eliminates the physiological amelioration of endothelial function during the menstrual cycle. This study underlines the importance of an exact description of menstrual cycle phase and smoking status in studies investigating endothelial function in premenopausal women.